Mike Weiss working with Todd for Oly year

[berthesghost]

www.michaelweiss.org/mike...pdate.html (http://www.michaelweiss.org/mikeupdates/mikeupdate.html)

"I've have always been good friends
with Todd, and respect his skating
skills very much. I am looking forward
to him having a positive impact on my skating."*

I did not see this one coming.

[mkskatingfan]

It is cool though. Best of luck to Mike next season!

[kwanette]

:) Good for Mike..

[lavender]

Whoa...this is interesting.

[iloveskating]

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. :lol MW never did defeat Todd did he, despite all his threats?

[mkskatingfan]

Come to think of it I don't think Micahel ever did. I don't remember any threats though.

[Fumbilicious]

I think thats cool that Michael is going to be working with Todd. I can't wait to see the outcome.

[iloveskating]

By threats I mean all the big talk from Mike about how he had a quad and was going to beat Todd, etc. I remember it on a few different occasions.

[iluvtodd]

Very interesting development. I wish Mike well.

[honey827]

Interesting move. I don't know if it will get him to the Olympics but it is good that Mike wants to make some sort of change.

[redvispa]

this is weird -- what on earth is Todd going to do for him that hasn't already been attempted by his other coaches?

[Eldredgefan2001]

Considering that Todd made the Olympic team at the age of 29, maybe he's looking for that kind of motivation? Anyway, I also think that it would be great if Todd's sense of sportsmanship can rub off on Mike. Then there is always that aim at bettering his technique. Todd has excellent jump and spin technique, something that Mike clould obviously use. But, I didn't ever expect to see this coming. It's a bit of a shock. I wish Mike the best at making the Olympic team. :D

[Krista]

Todd is an awesome spinner so maybe he can help Michael with that some, and maybe help Michael with some of the choreography*crosses fingers*

[mkskatingfan]

I just think it's cool. I'm a big fan of both Michael and Todd's and can't wait to see the outcome of this.

[MKGrace]

Todd definitely has great technical skills, and Mike can use some help in that department (particularly his axel technique). Todd is one of the best spinners too so that should help Mike get some more points there.

Considering that Todd never medaled at the Olympics in several attempts, I hope Mike isn't going to rely on him for help in the mental aspect of the competition. He should use a sports psychologist for that.

[taf]

I just can't see Mike being competitive with the current field of men. I think he would be lucky to make top 10 at Olys. However, any improvement made by working with Todd would not be a waste. I think Mike would be perfect as a pro skater if he would just skate to something other than teenybopper boy bands.

[sandrakae]

AH GEE. You mean we got to put up with another year of him. He is wasting his time. The men's O team is going to be

Evan
Johnny
Timmy

[kwanette]

Michael Weiss was definitely one of the highlights at this year's SOI...I wish he would dump his wife as his choreographer...and hire a professional...someone who would help him stretch out his moves..I always thought that he could have been fairly majestic, but then he comes up with these God-awful moves. I saw him live in 98 at Nats, one of his best performances...Many in the crowd thought that he should have won...But I was happy that Todd did..Anyway, I wish Mike well.

[EigthAv]

Weiss has to first make the 2006 US podium before he can think about an Olympic medal.Weir and Lysacek are going to be very hard to bump and the entire field is tough and hungry. I'm not surprised that Eldredge would lend a hand to Team Weiss. Now if we hear that Lipinski or Butyrskaya has joined in the Kwan Road to Italy crusade,that will be a board buster.

[attyfan]

Considering some of the things that Butyrskaya is supposed to have said about Slutskaya, I wouldn't be surprised to see her on the "Kwan Road to Italy crusade"

[MKGrace]

<blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>AH GEE. You mean we got to put up with another year of him. He is wasting his time. The men's O team is going to be Johnny, Timmy, Evan<hr></blockquote> Agreed. I think Tim is questionable but I don't see Weiss landing a quad or enough 3axels, so I think Timmy will make the team.

[iluvtodd]

Here a brief report from Mike's site:

www.michaelweiss.org/miketodd.shtml (http://www.michaelweiss.org/miketodd.shtml)

[EigthAv]

Thanks for the link. Yes,it sounds like two peas in a pod.

[tvcats]

Wow. I think that Tim is as big a question mark as Mike. But that's just my personal feeling.

[EigthAv]

Maybe Timmy could get in kahoots with Tara.:eek If Michelle resorts to going to former Olympian for spiritual advice,I recommend Tenley Albright. Get Tenley in your corner! Maybe Liashenko and Baiul could do some Ukranian conspiring.8) Plushy and Petrenko????<!--EZCODE BR START--><!--EZCODE BR END--><!--EZCODE BR START--><!--EZCODE BR END-->tvcats,who is the darling little skater in your piccie icon? She is soooooooo cute.

[mixedmadness]

I don't think that any of the men are a lock for the team at this point and imo the men's competition at nationals this year may arguably be better and more exciting than the big international events. Johnny seems like he is consistent enough to make the team even if he is relatively shaky and Evan seems to be gaining moment and he is quite consistent. Additionally, going into the Olympic year as the reigning world bronze medalist is not too shabby either.

I really want Ryan Jahnke to make the Olympic team because I firmly believe that he is the best all around male skater out there now in the amatuer ranks and the judges like him. I mean he beat Mike at Skate America last year even with falls and several errors and it looks like he could easily rack up lots of cop points like Sasha or Irina. If he has a strong season internationally, he is definitely a contender. Someone once commented that the judges just do not seem to know what to do with him because he is so inconsistent. I just hope he can deliver the goods.

Imo, Mike and Timmy look the shakiest. Timmy really only had his quads in his corner and they seem to have abandoned him. Other than that, there is really not much else to his skating. Mike, is just so inconsistent and his programs are awfully choreographed. He needs to work on his triple axel as well.

If things go the way I would like them to be it would be as follows:

1. Ryan
2. Johnny
3. Evan
4. Mike(alternate for the olympics)

[tvcats]

<A little off-topic, please excuse me>

Mike, the little fella in my personal pic is my grandson. But I made sure that he started going to skating events, even before his birth. We "snuck" him into SOI a few months before he was born. LOL

[Eldredgefan2001]

Glad that they had a great time working together. Sounds like Mike intends working with Todd at other points during the season. Good for him! :D



Come Visit Us at
The Ultimate TODD ELDREDGE Fan Forum (http://s12.invisionfree.com/TODDELICIOUS/index.php)

[gratefulmkfan]

I love Todd, and I think it's generous of him to help Mike, but didn't he have trouble at the last 2 Olympics with his 3 axels, and the same during at least one World Championship? Mike is known for his waxels, and I'm wondering why he didn't ask Brian Boitano for help. Brian has a great 3 axel, and that could help Mike. Of course, then he would need another coach for quads. Hmm..... Maybe people are right. Mike may not have another Olympics in him. Too sad when that's your heart's desire, but many skaters live with and through it. May the most deserving end up in Torino, and hopefully on the Podium.

[iloveskating]

Mike's coach should be able to help him with 3a, or go to a jump coach. I haven't heard of Brian coaching or training any top skaters. My impression was his working with Todd was more for the strategy. midset, motivation type of thing.

[gratefulmkfan]

Ahhh, then you're right. Mike's coach (or a jump coach) needs to help him with his waxels and maybe quads too.

OT: I woder why Brian doesn't help coach or train elite skaters in his (probably not too much) free time.

[Eldredgefan2001]

Must be more than that since Mike will be taking more trips to Michigan later on in the year. Todd has a big, gorgeous 3axel, and Mike would do well to get advice from him on landing it. Don Laws was right for recommending Mike work with Todd. :\


Come Visit Us at
The Ultimate TODD ELDREDGE Fan Forum (http://s12.invisionfree.com/TODDELICIOUS/idex.php)

[gratefulmkfan]

eldredgefan01, I meant no disrespect of Todd. I love the guy, and I know he still has a gorgeous, high and plump 3 axel, consistently landed. It's just that his Olympic problems were axel related (sigh), so I wondered if those disappointments might translate into his teaching. Mike's waxel needs a lot of work, whereas Todd's mishaps were anomalies, definitely not his norm. IOW, Todd didn't have any major problem to overcome. His axel has been solid for years, except at Oly's (sob).

Mike needs to learn this jump from the ground up - not just a touch-up - so to speak, so I thought a "specialist" might be in Mike's best interest, but you are right. Todd is a "specialist".

[Eldredgefan2001]

Did Frank Carroll's or any other coach's skating disappointments translate to his students? NO! I don't think that's even an issue! Besides, Todd is fine with his career, he's had a great one. Far more successes than disappointments. He doesn't harp on what he did in the past. The Olympics is over for him, and maybe he can share what he has learned over the years with others. I have no doubt in my mind that he would be a kick *ss skating coach! You believe what you will. Besides, if Don Laws was going to make improvements in Michael's jumps and spins, he's had two years to do it. Now, maybe Todd can help. After all, Mr. Laws did suggest Todd to Michael. :\



Come Visit Us at
The Ultimate TODD ELDREDGE Fan Forum (http://s12.invisionfree.com/TODDELICIOUS/index.php)

[nymkfan51]

eldredgefan ... GRATEFULMKFAN did not say, or even insinuate, anything about Todd being unhappy with his career.
I really don't understand your rather snarky response.

And tvcats, your grandson is just adorable!!!:)

[attyfan]

I think a lot of us forget that Todd has had repeated "come backs" in his career, not only after skating badly at Nats in '93 and '94, to come back, recapture his US title (repeatedly) and medal at Worlds, winning once -- but also, after Nagano Olys, taking years off, and coming back to win a world bronze (and securing three spots for US men at SLC) and a Nat title. I think that what Mike needs is more mental -- a feeling that he can come back -- and Todd can really help him there!

[kwanette]

nymkfan51, don't you know by now that the only skater who is allowed to be criticized on the Michelle Kwan Forum is....drumroll, please....Michelle Kwan?

[nymkfan51]

Darn! I keep forgetting that, kwanette. :o

[mkskatingfan]

I think that for the men the US will be send ing Johnny, Evan and Timothy. Though I love Michael and would rather have him than Johnny, but I don't think that it will happen with Maichael. I'm sticking to the thtree I said.